monday miscellany

1) I love reading the Sunday paper. It's one of my favorite things. I get news from the radio during the week and like that too, but reading a good old fashioned newspaper is pretty great.

2) Yesterday was a beautiful warm, sunny day. I took the opportunity to plant some bulbs. We will have pink tulips and all different colors of hyacinths. Hyacinths are one of my favorite flowers because they smell so nice.

3) I'm signing up for at least a couple more fall races. Should be fun! Even after the marathon I still get nervous about races. I have to force myself to follow through and register.

4) I made dinner rolls yesterday, continuing my exploration of vegan baking. There is no smell more wonderful than that of homemade yeast bread baking in the oven.

5) I'm not missing much about animal products, but there is one thing I do miss now that fall and football season are here. Buffalo chicken dip: one of the most delicious things on earth. I did a quick search and found some vegan and vegetarian recipes, but I can't imagine them being as good. I'm still scared of vegan mayo and cream cheese. And the ingredients in them? Not the healthiest.

6) We went to a birthday party this weekend at a My Gym. Celia had a blast. We took a video of her navigating a little ladder/obstacle course thing. We couldn't believe she could do it all by herself. The ladder takes a lot of coordination. She was slower than the other kids because she was the smallest, so she always had someone breathing down her neck. It cracks me up when she stops and turns around because the girl behind her is almost on top of her.

8) This weekend I took home the same files I brought home last weekend. Because clearly I would have plenty of time and motivation to write reports in between playing with Celia, running errands, gardening, going to a party, cooking, cleaning, and reading and writing things that are actually enjoyable. They're coming back to work again today, still to be finished.

9) Chris doesn't usually pick out Celia's clothes or get her dressed. For good reason, I might add, based on the time I found her dressed in overalls with no shirt underneath. And the time a few weeks ago when I found her dress on backwards... Anyway, yesterday I had her already dressed in a very cute outfit when Chris came downstairs with a Celtics warm-up suit he'd dug out of her closet. Size 12 months and it finally fits.

10) Now that we're planning to stay here longer rather than try to sell our place, I have home improvement on my mind! I haven't even mentioned most of my plans/dreams to Chris because he will say no to everything! My dream of new living room furniture will not come true for a long time. Party pooper. So I will be changing things here and there on my own and will have to stay in my monthly budget, which will be a challenge. Maybe just a small thing or two each month.

Have a great week!